[jacobian.org] how to check references
Hello, Jacob here. I’m back from my backpacking trip and catching up. I’ve got a backlog of email to reply to; if you’re expecting a response from me, it’ll probably be anotyher few days before I get back to you.
How to check references
Last month, I wrote a series on one of the final stages in a hiring process – checking references:
1️⃣ Yes, You Should Check References
Reference checking isn’t optional: it can save you from making a big mistake. Reference checks are your last line of defense against hiring a jerk.
2️⃣ How to Check References
When should you check references? How many? How should you contact references? What questions should you ask? Answers to these quyestions, and more, in this post on the nuts and bolts of reference checking.
3️⃣ What to do if a reference check goes wrong
Most of the time, reference checks go very well: you only turn up information that confirms your decision to hire this candidate. But sometimes — maybe about 10% of the time — the reference will tell you something concerning. Here’s what to do if that happens.
Elsewhere…
🔗 OPM Reference Checking Guide (PDF) - this guide to checking references by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (a sort of central HR for the US Federal Government) has some other good questions to ask, and is all around a good guide. Your Tax Dollars At Work!